SEGA announced today that Valkyria Chronicles 2 will in fact be coming to the U.S. in Summer 2010.

Rather than getting the PS3 treatment a second time, this sequel will release on the PSP. Though it’s going portable, the game will still feature the CANVAS watercolor visuals featured in the original title. Also, the BLiTZ battle system has been redesigned to “offer players the freedom to strategically move around the environment and attack enemies using real-time controls.”

Valkyria Chronicles 2 is set two years after the first game, following the exploits of a fresh-faced group of Gallian Military Academy cadets fighting against the next incarnation of the Gallian Revolutionary Army.

Press Release:

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (September 16, 2009) – SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced that Valkyria Chronicles™ 2, is coming exclusively to the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system. PSP system owners will be able to experience the highly acclaimed mix of distinctive visuals and addictive gameplay first seen in Valkyria Chronicles™ , one of the most highly reviewed tactical RPGs ever to appear on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

The story of Valkyria Chronicles 2 takes place two years after the conclusion of the original game. A group of young Gallian Military Academy cadets find themselves plunged into a bitter civil war when the newly formed Gallian Revolutionary Army stages a coup. As the epic drama unfolds in the game, players will experience stories of friendship, love and growing pains during a time of war and revolution.

“ Valkyria Chronicles is a genuine hidden gem on PS3™,” said Sean Ratcliffe, VP of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. “It was one of the PS3’s most highly rated tactical RPG games so we’re delighted to offer PSP system owners to play Valkyria Chronicles 2 . It’s one of our most cherished franchises so we hope the fans will welcome this exclusive sequel.”

The “CANVAS” engine originally developed internally by SEGA Game Studios Japan for Valkyria Chronicles™ on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system is being fully redesigned for the graphical capabilities of the PSP system. This incredibly distinctive engine will power over 20 new distinct and visually stunning environments within which players will have hundreds of different missions to explore.

Valkyria Chronicles “BLiTZ” battle system has also been re-designed to offer players the freedom to strategically move around the environment and attack enemies using real-time controls, something never before seen in the tactical role-playing game genre.

Valkyria Chronicles™ 2 will be available for the PSP system in summer 2010.